Amber Alert cancelled for two Alberta girls, mother arrested in B.C.

UPDATE: Two girls who vanished from their Alberta school on Monday are safe and their mother has been arrested in British Columbia.

RCMP say six-year-old Taya Meisel and her 12-year-old sister, Talisha, were located in Boston Bar, in B.C.’s Fraser Canyon.

Their mother, 48-year-old Trina Meisel, faces two counts of abduction.

More to come…

VANCOUVER — RCMP have issued an Amber Alert for an Alberta mother and her two daughters after the trio was spotted in southeastern British Columbia, near the border.

Sgt. Rob Vermeulen says the alert was issued after a “confirmed sighting” in Golden, about 265 kilometres west of Calgary, and police now fear the girls could be in trouble.

“There’s a concern for the safety of the children, that’s why we’ve activated the Amber Alert here in B.C.,” he said.

“We’ve got mom’s description and the vehicle, so obviously we’re asking anyone to call RCMP if you see them.”

Police say the girls, Talisha Meisel, aged 12, and six-year-old Taya, vanished Monday after leaving their elementary school in Brandt, near Vulcan, Alta., south of Calgary.

It is believed the girls may have snuck out of school to join their mother, 48-year-old Trina Meisel, who is the non-custodial parent. Posts on social media have suggested the family may be travelling west to Vancouver Island, possibly Nanaimo or Ladysmith.

There’s a concern for the safety of the children

The alert says they are travelling in a black, 2007 Honda CR-V, with the Alberta vanity plate ORNRSE.

Vermeulen could not say when the sighting was made or provide further details. He referred questions to police in
Alberta, who were not immediately available.

“The amber alert has been issued so everybody is on high alert, everybody is looking — police, public,” he said, adding Mounties in Golden were involved in the search. “We’re asking the public as well to keep an eye out. This is who we’re looking for. The descriptors are out.”

When the girls first disappeared on Monday, police in Alberta had said the children were not believed to be in immediate danger.

Talisha is described as having long, blond wavy hair; when last seen in Alberta she was wearing a turquoise sweater, a grey striped T-shirt and blue jeans.

Taya also has long, blond wavy hair and was wearing prescription glasses.